All careersEngineering & science

Architect

$99,280
median pay per year
full range coming in the next data update

What the job actually is

Design buildings, plan how spaces work and look, and guide projects from drawings to construction.

Where you work

Offices and construction sites; desk design plus field visits.

The hours

Usually full-time; long hours near deadlines.

By the numbers

May 2024–25 BLS wage data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.

Median pay
$99,280
per year
What most earn
range coming soon
Openings a year
~7,800
projected, 2024–34
Outlook to 2034
+4%
About average
Working in the U.S.
coming soon

Openings a year counts new jobs plus the ones that open when people retire or move on — a truer picture of your odds than growth alone.

“Median” means half earn more and half earn less. Your city, employer, and years on the job move it a lot — that is what the 10th-to-90th range shows.

How you get in

Typical starting education

Bachelor's degree

Training path: 5-year B.Arch or M.Arch + license.

License or certification

Requires a degree, an internship period, and passing licensing exams.

What it takes

CreativityVisualizationCommunicationAttention to detail

The honest take

Long licensure road; the pay arrives after it.

Standard Occupational Classification 17-1011. Pay, employment, and outlook from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wage survey and 2024–34 employment projections). See something off? Tell us.